Packaging in flexible material for food products to be consumed after heating in the oven

ABSTRACT

Packaging ( 10 ) in flexible material, comprising a supporting base ( 11 ) wherefrom two opposite side walls ( 12 ) rise up, each one sealed to a half-perimeter ( 13 ) of the base ( 11 ) and sealed one to the other along respective side edges ( 14 ) and along the upper edge with a head sealing ( 16 ), characterised in that in an intermediate area of the packaging ( 10 ) at least one continuous transverse sealing ( 17 ) is provided, suitable for dividing the interior of the packaging ( 10 ) into two separate chambers, a lower chamber ( 20 ) and an upper chamber ( 21 ), suitable for containing two different components of a product to be heated and brought into contact at the time of consumption, said transverse sealing ( 17 ) being such as to open when a certain pressure is reached in said lower chamber ( 20 ), thus forming a single chamber inside the packaging ( 10 ).

The object of the present invention is packaging in flexible material ofthe stand-up type, i.e. self-supporting, suitable for containing a foodproduct made up of at least two components kept separate, and to bemixed and heated before consumption. For example in the lower part ofthe packaging a solid wet component is contained, such as filled andunfilled fresh pasta, and in the upper part a liquid component whichcould be the pasta condiment.

The invention also relates to a kit comprising such a flexiblepackaging, a substantially rigid outer case and optional disposablecutlery, such as to make the heating in the oven and the consumption ofthe product easy.

Currently, due to the frenetic pace of modern living, which allowsincreasingly limited time for the consumption of meals, packagings offood products ready for consumption are becoming increasinglywidespread, after heating in the oven, in particular in the microwaveoven.

The packagings currently existing on the market consist, in the majorityof cases, of rigid containers where the liquid component is already incontact with the solid component and all this is housed in an outercardboard case. These solutions, in addition to a greater use ofmaterial, involve the solid component, for example the pasta, on thebase of the packaging, remaining immersed in the liquid component, forexample sauce, for the whole period between packaging and consumption,causing a possible deterioration of the quality of the product.

Other solutions exist which provide a tray, containing for example acondiment, placed or formed in a larger tray, containing for examplepasta, both closed with a peelable film, and all this placed inside acardboard case. These packagings, in addition to also requiring agreater use of material, are somewhat complicated in the phase of use,the consumer having to perform manually the mixing between the twocomponents of the product.

WO 2007/142887 A1 describes a packaging with multiple compartments, inparticular two compartments containing two liquid substances to be mixedin order to form a drink. The two compartments are separated by afragile heat seal suitable for being broken by manual crushing of thepackaging. A heating of the packaging is not foreseen.

The object of the invention is that of eliminating the disadvantages ofthe systems of the prior art relating to products to be mixed and heatedbefore consumption.

More particularly one object of the invention is that of allowing thatthe components of the product come into contact, without manualintervention, only when they are warm and shortly before being consumed.

Another object of the invention is that of providing such a packagingwhich requires less use of packing material with respect to thepackagings of the prior art. Another object again of the invention isthat of providing such a packaging which is simple to use.

Yet another object of the invention is that of providing such apackaging which is simple and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects are achieved according to the invention with thefeatures of the appended independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependentclaims.

Substantially the packaging in flexible material of the stand-up typeaccording to the invention, comprising a reinforced supporting basewherefrom two opposite side walls rise up, each one sealed to arespective half-perimeter of the base and sealed one to the other alongthe side edges and the upper edge, has in an intermediate area acontinuous transverse sealing such as to divide up the interior of thepackaging into two separate chambers, suitable for containing twodifferent components of a food product to be heated and brought intocontact at the time of consumption.

The abovementioned transverse sealing is such as to open due to theincrease in pressure following heating in the oven, due to the expansionof the inner atmosphere of the lower chamber, normally containing a wetsolid, causing the fall thereon of the component, normally liquid,contained in the upper chamber, thus determining a single chamber insidethe packaging.

The aforesaid transverse sealing has preferably a V shape, with the topturned downwards, to facilitate the opening of the sealing during theexpansion of the atmosphere in the lower chamber.

A second continuous transverse sealing is provided a short distance fromthe upper or head sealing of the packaging and between said secondtransverse sealing and the head sealing side openings are provided,determined for example by a lack of sealing between the side edges ofthe packaging in these areas.

Said second transverse sealing is such as to open with a sound effectfollowing the further heating of the packaging, which causes furtherexpansion of the atmosphere which pressurises the inner chamber.

The provision of the two side openings between the double head sealingallows the release of gas without the interior of the oven being soiledby possible sprays of liquid.

On the side walls of the packaging, above the level of the solidcomponent, a weakening is created in the material in transversedirection with the laser engraving technique, or by means of anabrasion. At one end at least of the pre-engraving a notch is providedto facilitate the tearing, the depth of which must not obviously exceedthe width of the corresponding side sealing of the packaging. With sucha system the packaging will be easily opened, removing the upper part,in order to make it similar to a plate from which to consume the meal.

The packaging is conveniently made in a plastic laminate with two ormore layers, where the outer layer is for example polyester (PET) withthe possibility of offering a barrier to the gases, and the innerheat-sealing layer in contact with the product is in polyethylene (PE),polypropylene (PP), co-extruded films obtained from PE-EVOH, PE-PA(polyamide), PP-EVOH, PP-PA and the like, provided it is able toguarantee the opening of the sealing by means of the pressure which iscreated inside the packaging.

This effect can be obtained by means of peelable layers or bylacquering, with openable and heat-sealable products, the inner surfaceof the laminate at the scalings to be opened.

to For structures with more than two layers, between the outer film andthe inner sealing one a film of OPA or of PET can be inserted.

A packaging of this type is suitable for being heated in a microwaveoven.

A use in electric oven with temperatures up to approximately 130° C.cannot however be excluded, in which case laminates will be able to beused containing for example an aluminium film with barrier effect,immediately inside the outermost PET film.

Advantageously the packaging in flexible material according to theinvention is provided housed in an outer cardboard case, for greaterpracticality of use, both in the phase of heating of the packaging andof consumption of the product, in fact the insulating action of thecardboard avoids the risk of burns to the hands in the case of excessheat.

Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the followingdetailed description, referred to a purely non-limiting example thereof,illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a flexible packaging according tothe invention, whereon the various sealing lines are given;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1 filledwith the product, before use;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of the flexible packaging of FIG. 2inserted in an outer cardboard case;

FIGS. 4-7 are schematic front views, illustrating the phases of fillingof the packaging;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the opening of theouter case;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the opening of the flexiblepackaging;

FIG. 10 shows finally how the product can be consumed directly from thepackaging.

Referring to these drawings, and for the time being in particular toFIGS. 1 and 2, a packaging according to the invention has been denotedoverall by reference numeral 10. This is a packaging known by the nameof stand-up packaging, formed in flexible material, with one or morelayers, heat sealable at least on one face.

The packaging 10 has a reinforced supporting base 11 and two oppositeside walls 12, each one sealed to a respective half-perimeter 13 of thebase 11, and sealed one to the other at the side edges 14.

In order to allow a widening of the supporting base 11 of the packagingeach lower sealing 13 is joined to the side scalings or edges 14 bymeans of respective pairs of slanted sealing sections 15. The packaging10 structured in this way takes on an upward tapering shape and, afterhaving been filled with the product, is closed above by means of a headsealing 16.

A packaging of this type can be considered in itself substantiallyknown.

According to the invention in an intermediate zone of the packaging acontinuous transverse sealing 17 is provided which, in the exampleillustrated, has a very wide V configuration, with the top turneddownwards, such as to divide the interior of the packaging 10 into twoseparate chambers, a lower one 20 and an upper one 21.

At a short distance from the upper head sealing 16 of the packaging 10 asecond continuous transverse sealing 18 is provided, which developsparallel thereto, and between said scalings 16-18 side openings 19 areprovided, determined, for example, by an interruption of side scalings14 in these zones.

On the side walls 12 of the packaging 10, at approximately the top ofthe lower chamber 20, a transverse weakening line 22 is formed of thematerial with the laser engraving technique or by means of an abrasion.At the ends of the weakening lines 22 a respective notch 23 is providedto facilitate the tearing, the depth of which does not exceed the widthof the corresponding side sealing 14 of the packaging.

The intermediate transverse sealing 21 and the second upper headtransverse sealing 18 are such as to open, making the side walls 12 ofthe packaging 10 separate on reaching a certain pressure inside thepackaging, as will be explained in greater detail here below.

This can be obtained by providing, at the zones occupied by theseopenable scalings, peelable layers, or by lacquering with openable andheat-sealable products the inner surface of the laminate with which thepackaging is made.

Referring to the schematic views of FIGS. 4 to 7 the step of filling andclosure of the packaging 10 is now described briefly.

In FIG. 4 the packaging is open above and in it a wet solid component isinserted, for example pasta which is placed on the base of thepackaging. Subsequently the V-shaped transverse sealing 17 is performed,which confines the aforesaid solid component in the lower chamber 20(FIG. 5).

In the upper chamber 21 a liquid or pasty component is then inserted, inthis case a sauce serving as condiment for the pasta (FIG. 6).

Finally the two head scalings 18 and 16 are formed, leaving the sidevents or openings 19.

FIG. 3 shows the flexible packaging 10 according to the invention housedin a substantially rigid outer cardboard case 30.

The case 30 has a base 31 in the form of a rectangular tray in which thepackaging 10 is placed, wherefrom two side walls 32 rise up with widthdecreasing upwards which are joined one to the other with known means,for example tab and slot, to close the packaging 10 above, as shown inFIG. 3.

The aforesaid side walls 32 are joined to the base 31 by means ofrespective pre-perforated lines 33 suitable, if necessary, forfacilitating the separation thereof.

Moreover cutlery 34 can also be inserted in the case 30 for theconsumption of the product, as will now be described.

FIG. 8 shows schematically the opening of the outer cardboard case 30with removal of the side walls 32 facilitated by the pre-perforatedlines 33, in such a way that the flexible packaging 10 remains housed inthe base tray 31 and can be placed for example in a microwave oven forheating.

During the first phase of heating the synergic action of expansionbetween the steam developed by the wet solid component placed in thelower chamber 20 and the inner atmosphere of the same chamber cause theopening of the transverse sealing 17 and the fall onto the solidcomponent of the liquid component contained in the upper chamber 21,determining in this way a single chamber inside the packaging.

Continuing the heating, the steam generated by the components mixed inthe single expansion chamber, again synergically with the inneratmosphere, will pressurise this chamber, causing the opening of thehead sealing 18, opening which will be able to be perceived by a soundeffect, like a light explosion, with the release of the gases throughthe side vents or openings 19, which avoid soiling of the oven due topossible sprays of liquid.

Having ended the step of heating, the packaging 10 contained in the base31 of the external cardboard case can be extracted from the oven andopened along the weakening lines 22, as schematised in FIG. 9.

At this point the meal can be consumed directly in the packaging 10using the cutlery 34 optionally provided, as shown schematically in FIG.10.

The laminates which can be used for the flexible packaging 10 can bewith two or more layers, where the outer layer is for example PET withbarrier to the gases and the inner layer of the heat-sealing type, incontact with the product, in PE, PP, co-extruded films obtained fromPE-EVOH, PE-PA, PP-EVOH, PP-PA and the like, provided it is able toguarantee the opening of the transverse scalings 17 and 18 by means ofthe pressure which is created inside the packaging 10. This effect canbe obtained by means of peelable layers or by lacquering, with openableand heat-sealable products, the inner surface of the laminate of thepackaging at the scalings to be opened.

Laminates of the aforesaid type are suitable for packagings 10 suitablefor being heated in a microwave oven.

A use of the packaging 10 according to the invention in an electric orgas oven with temperatures up to approximately 130° C. cannot beexcluded, in which case laminates will also be able to be used withaluminium, interposing for example an aluminium film immediately insidethe outermost PET film.

From what has been disclosed the advantages appear clear of thepackaging according to the invention with respect to the similarpackagings of the prior art.

One advantage comes from the fact that the liquid product (in theexample given the condiment) comes into contact with the wet solidproduct (in the example pasta) automatically only when the twocomponents are warm and shortly before being consumed, thus preservingthe aroma of the product.

A further advantage comes from the extreme simplicity of use of thepackaging, which stands out by its lightness.

In the preferred embodiment described previously the lower chamber 20contains a fresh solid component and the upper chamber 21 a liquidcomponent.

However the packaging according to the invention could also be used byplacing in the lower chamber 20 a liquid component and in the upperchamber 21 a dry solid component, such as pasta.

In this case, following the opening of the transverse sealing 17, thesolid component falls into the liquid component, mixing with it.

Although the transverse sealing 17 has preferably a V shape with topturned downwards, without departing from the scope of the invention, thetop of the V could be turned upwards.

A further advantage again comes from the lower use of packing material.Naturally the invention is not limited to the particular embodimentpreviously described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, butnumerous detailed changes may be made thereto, within the reach of theperson skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope ofthe invention itself as defined by the appended claims.

1. Packaging (10) in flexible material, comprising a supporting base(11) wherefrom two opposite side walls (12) rise up, each one sealed toa half-perimeter (13) of the base (11) and sealed one to the other alongrespective side edges (14) and along the upper edge with a head sealing(16), in an intermediate area of the packaging (10) at least onecontinuous transverse sealing (17) being provided, suitable for dividingthe interior of the packaging (10) into two separate chambers, a lowerchamber (20) and an upper chamber (21), suitable for containing twodifferent components of a product to be brought into contact at the timeof consumption, characterised in that said transverse sealing (17) issuch as to open when a certain pressure is reached in said lower chamber(20), following heating, thus forming a single chamber inside thepackaging (10) and in that at a short distance from said upper or headsealing (16) a second transverse head sealing (18) is provided, andbetween said head scalings (16, 18) at least one side vent or opening(19) is provided, said second transverse head sealing (18) being such asto open when a certain pressure is reached in said unified chamber (20,21).
 2. Packaging (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that saidtransverse sealing (17) has a V shape.
 3. Packaging (10) according toclaim 1, wherein said at least one side vent or opening (19) is obtainedby interrupting the corresponding side sealing (14) of the packaging inthe area between said head sealings (16, 18).
 4. Packaging (10)according to claim 1, characterised in that on the side walls (12) ofthe packaging, approximately at the top of said chamber (20), respectiveweakening lines (22) of the material are provided, suitable forfacilitating the opening of the packaging.
 5. Packaging (10) accordingto claim 4, characterised in that at least at one end of said weakeninglines (22) a notch (23) is provided to facilitate the tearing, the depthof which does not exceed the width of the corresponding side sealing(14) of the packaging (10).
 6. Packaging (10) according to claim 1,characterised in that it is contained in a substantially rigid outercardboard case (30) having a base (31) shaped as a tray and suitable forhousing and supporting the flexible packaging (10), from which base twoopposite side walls (32) rise up with width decreasing upwards, suitablefor joining and covering the packaging.
 7. Packaging (10) according toclaim 6, wherein said opposite side walls (32) of the outer cardboardcase (30) are joined to said base (31) by means of respectivepre-perforated lines (33), suitable for facilitating the removalthereof.
 8. Packaging (10) according to claim 6, characterised in thatinside said cardboard case (30) disposable cutlery (34) is provided forconsumption of the product.
 9. Kit comprising a packaging in flexiblematerial for food products to be consumed after heating in the ovenaccording to any one of the preceding claims, an outer cardboard ease(30) and disposable cutlery (34).
 10. Method of filling and use of theflexible packaging (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,comprising the following steps: insertion in the packaging open above ofa first component suitable for positioning on the bottom of thepackaging; formation of said continuous transverse sealing (17) such asto divide the packaging into a lower chamber (20) and an upper chamber(21); insertion of a second component in said upper chamber (21);formation of the double head sealing (16, 18), leaving at least one sidevent or opening (19); first step of heating of the packaging in the ovenuntil opening of said transverse sealing (17); second step of heatinguntil opening of said head sealing (18) and exiting of gases throughsaid at least one side opening (19); opening of the packaging bybreaking of said weakening lines (22); consumption of the product bymeans of the cutlery (34) optionally provided.